THE KING AS A COLLIER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1557, 28 September 1912, Page 12

THE KING AS A COLLIER.

VISIT TO YORKSHIRE PIT, . The King and Queen's tour through the colliery districts ot tho West Riding of Yorkshire iu July 'was i deprived ot a great deal ot its satisfaction by tho Cndeby mine disaster in the neighbourhood. But thero wcro several memorable incidents. At Clifton Park their Majesties were-met by the Mayor and Mayoress and tho Corporation of Rotherhani. The Mayor and Mayoress were presented. Then tho Mayor led forward to their Majesties a little cripple boy, named John Wroe, who hobbled into the Royal presence oil a pair of wooden legs. The lad, it seems, some time ago read, of the King giving to a Cornish cripple a pair of artificial limbs, and he wrote to his Majesty asking him to bestow upon him tho samo favour. King George responded, and at the instigation of' tho Monarch the lad was brought to tho park in order that the King might shako hands with him. Tho great assemblage cheered the incident to the echo. Tho chief event of the day was the King's descent at Lord Fitzwiilinnrs Elsecar Main Colliery. All the usual formalities and regulations were observed. Tho rule that neither matches nor pipes nor tobacco should bo carried was strictly adhered to. "Have you £ot any matches or smoking material? said tho man to tho King, as he was about to step upon the cage. "I have not," answered his Majesty, "but I have a few cigars. May I tako those?" "Yes," replied tho cageman, "I think you may." The Archbishop of York was made to deliver up his smoking material, and tho same applied to the other members of the party. The King's cago descended tho depth of 300 yards in 55sec. A number off miners who' were at the bottom gave him a hearty cheer. His Majesty examined the open way, and then proceeded to the stables, where he saw a score of pit ponies. Tho King, carrying a silver electric safety lamp, went through the workings for about half a mile, frequently having to stoop because of a lowness of tho ceiling, and diverting from tho main path. He was shown an "abnormal place" working. Close by were a couple of men on the face vigorously hewing coal. "Let me have one of your picks," said his Majesty. The instrument was at once handed to him, and the King applied himself to hewing several pieces of coal. Ho succeeded in getting a quantity of tho softer coal, but a harder seam would not yield to his endeavour. .Some of the product of his own handiwork the Kins kept as a memento of the visit. "Ho knew where to find the soft," remarked a collier when his Majesty had departed. After watching some wagons being loaded and dispatched, his Majesty returned to the cage, and ascended, having been below 39 minutes. The cage-man at tlio top gave back bv request the matches, pipes, and tobacco which ho had demanded upon the descent.